UFC President Dana White revealed at the UFC 183 post-fight press conference on Saturday night that he offered to give Vitor Belfort an interim UFC Middleweight title fight against Lyoto Machida now that champion Chris Weidman is on the sidelines with another injury, an offer that White said Belfort turned down. Now, Belfort has surfaced to tell his side of the story.
In a new statement posted on his official Facebook page, “The Phenom” explained why he turned down the offer, claiming that he would fight Machida, or anyone else for that matter, if UFC were to strip Weidman of the title and make his fight for the undisputed UFC Middleweight Championship.
Below is Belfort’s statement regarding the situation:
“About the cancellation of my UFC 184 fight.
I would like to say that, as everyone else, I’m very disappointed with all this situation.
For exactly one year, I have seen my dream to make history in UFC with my 3rd world title in a different weight category postponed.
Here are some facts:
– UFC had to reschedule the middleweight world title content 3 times because of my opponent’s injuries (from May/14 to July/14- Weidman had a knee surgery, from December/14 to February/15 – Weidman had his hand broken, from February/15 to probably May/15- Weidman had his ribs hurt)
– MY FOCUS WAS ALWAYS THE MIDDLEWEIGHT BELT AND I CLIMBED THE LADDER TO ACHIEVE MY POSITION.
– This is why I won’t fight for an interim, but if UFC gives 8 weeks and the middleweight Belt available for dispute I fight with anyone from the ranking. Not for an Interin, But the Middleweight Belt!
– I’ve been in this sport for 19 years and I have never let UFC down.
– I accepted to fight for the Light Heavyweight Belt right after my sister got kidnapped and I still won the world championship.
– I offered myself to fight in the UFC 152 against Jon Jones with less than 8 weeks to prepare myself to the bout and I had exactly the same injury my opponent has now and still I stepped up to the fight.
I would like to thank UFC, the press and fans support, always.
Focused in the Middleweight Belt!”
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